Called off in 2009 due to state budget shortfalls, the historically state-sponsored games for amateur athletes faced another year of critical funding issues. Local organizers feared the competition would be watered down or, at worst, canceled for the second consecutive year – a move that some feared might wipe out the games.

But 20 Western New York corporations, foundations and agencies donated $1 million in cash and $150,000 of in-kind support to the games earlier this year. They plugged the budget gap, ensuring the games’ immediate stability and securing a multimillion-dollar economic windfall for the region.

Now they hope they’ve set an example for private-sector support for future games, including next year’s summer events in Rochester.

“We like to think we’re providing a blueprint for Rochester (corporations) so that they can address the games in comparable fashion,” said First Niagara Bank President and CEO John Koelmel. “We’re trying to lay that foundation to provide a model to others ... and if we can’t get it right this year, it puts next year in jeopardy. But we’re confident we have it right.”

Corporate sponsorship as a funding model is the future of the games, according to the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. It says partnerships with the private sector will preserve the games and fill budget holes not met by the state, whose resources for the games continue to dwindle. Of the total $1.9 million costs for the summer games, the state’s portion is less than $1 million.

“Under these circumstances, we do need assistance from the private sector in order to continue the games,” spokesperson Eileen Larrabee said. “Will there be more partnerships going forward? We hope so because we think it’s economically smart and brings new energy and life to our facilities and events.”

Buffalo-based First Niagara announced in March that it would donate $500,000 to the state to help fund the sporting competition. Koelmel, whose daughter participated in the games in 2004, helped raise another $500,000 to pay for non-sporting competition events, such as opening ceremonies and transportation for the estimated 6,000 athletes participating in the games. He paired up with Erie Community College President Jack Quinn, this year’s honorary co-chairman of the games.

Quinn said First Niagara’s single contribution generated interest from companies that previously worried the games wouldn’t come to Buffalo at all and thus hesitated to make a donation.

“When you’re about raising money, there’s nothing like having money to leverage it. So pitching it to local corporate citizens here in Buffalo is a little bit easier when you have half of what you need already,” he said.

The region is set to reap economic rewards from the games, scheduled July 21-25. Participants and spectators are expected to spend $12 million to $15 million on food, lodging, transportation and entertainment. Some 10,000 out-of-towners could descend on the area, watching competition at local parks and college campuses.

The financial impact for Western New York is part of the reason Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York donated $100,000 to the games, spokesperson Gretchen Fierle said. She hopes more companies come onboard in future years.

“This thing should move on with or without government involvement,” she said. “It’s great that some of us stepped forward in a big way, and we hope that spread will keep happening so that more people are involved. That’s actually a great message to the community.”

Retired ECC athletics director Ralph Galanti, chairman of the local organizing committee, said the committee always planned to ask corporations for donations and planned to go forward with the games, even if it meant bare-bones operations. It originally hoped to pull in $500,000. Galanti said he was “kind of shocked” by the million-dollar-plus total.

He believes continued corporate sponsorship is the only way the games will exist in coming years.

“Things have changed, and the state cannot do things it normally did in the past,” he said. “If there are companies (giving) like there are this year, (the games) will have a good future.”

But the private sector can’t pull it off alone, he added.

Nor should it, Koelmel said.

“Can the private sector subsidize the entire budget? No,” Koelmel said. “Clearly some commitment is needed from the state.”